Device for applying decorative tips to cigarettes



United States Patent i 13,s33,41s

Smith A. Meadors 216 Boxwood Lane, Greenville, South [72] lnventor Carolina 029205 [211 App]. No. 641,636 [22] 1 Filed May26, 1967 [45] Patented Oct. 13,1970

[54] DEVICE FOR APPLYING DECORATIVE TIPS TO CIGARETTES 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 131/95.

29/235. 131/11. 131/76, 131/170 [51] Int. Cl ..A24c 05/58, A24d 01/04 [50] Field ofSearch 131/95,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,505 2/1895 Hartsock 131/228X 880,488 2/1908 Gueniffet et a1. 131/11 8/1909 Drucklieb 2,651,308 9/1953 Marland 131/228 46,464 2/1865 Grant 29/235X 1,116,419 11/1914 Hammerstein.. 131/95 2,184,687 12/1939 Freud 131/95 2,218,904 10/1940 Burd 29/235 3,319,325 5/1967 Nessamar ct al 29/235 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,436 8/1949 Great Britain 131/228 Primary Examiner-Samuel Koren Assistant Examiner.lames H. C zerwonky ABSTRACT: A device having a plunger for expanding a coiled decorative tip so that such can be inserted on a cigarette. The plunger has a diameter larger than that of the cigarette and is contained in a housing having a cylindrical here The bore has an abutment therein for engaging the coiled tip, thereby forcing the tip off of the plunger and onto the cigarette as the cigarette is introduced into the bore and the plunger is slid past the abutment. The tip is made of resilient material and has an unexpanded diameter less than that of the cigarette.

QINVENTOR. SMITH MEADORS Patented Oct 13, 1970 ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR APPLYING DECORATIVE TIPS T CIGARETTES This invention relates to a device for inserting a decorative tip on a cigarette.

Tips or mouth pieces for cigarettes have been almost invariably applied as a constituent part of the cigarette. Normally, these tips are constructed of a white stiff material which blends in with the color of the cigarette wrapper. Cigarettes having wrappers of various colors to blend in with clothes and lipstick used by smokers are on the market. However, normally many cigarettes of various colors are included in a pack of cigarettes. Frequently, a smoker may smoke many cigarettes while dressed in a particular outfit. Thus, it can be seen that only a relatively few of the cigarettes will blend in with the colors used in the smokers attire.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device for inserting decorative tips on cigarettes and the like.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which allows a smoker to insert decorative tips of a desired color onto cigarettes and the like.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a device for inserting decorative tips on cigarettes and the like, which has a reservoir for retaining reserve tips.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating a plunger being utilized to insert a tip on a cigarette,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a modified form of the device for inserting decorative tips on cigarettes,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating a housing having a tip inserting device adjacent the bottom thereof, with a reservoir for retaining reserve tips carried directly thereabove,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the manner in which the reserve tips are retained within the reservoir,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating another retaining device for holding reserve tips within the reservoir,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating still another modified form of the inserting device, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a split coiled decorative tip sleeve positioned on the end of a cigarette partially illustrated in broken lines.

The drawing illustrates a device for inserting decorative tips on cigarettes and the like, constructed in accordance with the present invention. The coiled decorative tip A is constructed of a resilient polymeric material, such as Mylar, and has a diameter when in a relaxed position of less than that of the cigarette B upon which such is to be inserted. The coiled tip is capable of being expanded to a diameter greater than the diameter of the cigarette B. A housing is provided having a wall defining a longitudinal cylinder C. A plunger D is slidably carried within the cylinder C, and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cigarette B upon which the tip A is to be inserted. The coiled tip A is carried on the plunger in an expanded position prior to insertion onto the cigarette. An end of the cigarette B is placed in contact with the plunger D for shifting the plunger from a first postion to a second position when the cigarette is inserted within the cylinder C. An abutment E is carried in the cylinder C adjacent the plunger D and engages the coiled tip A when the plunger is shifted forcing the tip off the plunger D onto the cigarette B. Thus, the decorative tip A is placed on the cigarette and snugly embraces the cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plunger having a shank I0 and a conical shaped member 11 integral with one end thereof, is provided for inserting the decorative tip A onto the cigarette B illustrated in broken lines. The conical shaped member ll tapers outwardly from the shank 10 so that as the tip is slipped over the shank l0 and upon the enlarged portion of the conical shaped member 11, such is expanded to a diameter greater than that of the cigarette B.

The tip A is constructed of any suitable colored flexible polymeric material, such as Mylar, and is in the form of an overlapping longitudinal coil which is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. When an end of the cigarette B is placed in contact with the enlarged end of the conical shaped member 11 the tip A is slipped off of the plunger onto the end of the cigarette. The coiled tip A returns to its relaxed position and snugly embraces the cigarette B providing a decorative tip therefor.

FIG. 2 illustrates another device constructed in accordance with the present invention which is utilized for inserting the decorative tip A onto the cigarette B. The housing includes a cylindrical wall 12 which defines a longitudinal cylinder C. A plunger D is slidably carried within the cylinder C and has a diameter greater than that of the diameter of the cigarette B. An abutment E is carried within the cylinder so that when the plunger is shifted from the dotted line position to the full line position the abutment E engages the end of the tip A forcing such off the plunger onto the end of the cigarette B. As a result of the abutment E the diameter of the cylinder adjacent the left end is less than the diameter on the right end. It is noted that the cigarette B is inserted within the cylinder C to force the plunger from the dotted line position to the full line position. In order to insert another coiled decorative tip A onto the plunger D a tip is first inserted within the right-hand end of the cylinder and the user's finger is placed over the open end thereof. Pressure is applied to a shank l3 integral with the plunger D to force such to the right. As the plunger is forced to the right the coiled tip rides up over the inclined end 14 of the plunger onto the main body thereof. While the plunger is illustrated as being manipulated by a longitudinally extending shank, it is to be noted that such could be manipulated by a laterally extending member which extends outwardly from the plunger D through a slot provided in the wall 12. It is noted that the shank 13 extends through an opening 15 in an end wall 16 which encloses one end of the cylinder C.

FIG. 3 illustrates a device which incorporates a tip inserting device, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, the housing is extended upwardly to provide a reservoir for retaining spare tips A. The reservoir is rectangular in shape, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and extends upwardly from the wall 12 of the inserting device. A cover I7 is hinged to the rear wall 18 ofthe reservoir by any suitable means, and has a latch 19 which could be any suitable latch mounted on the front thereof for securing the cover to the front wall 20. The front and rear walls 18 and 20, respectively, are joined by side walls 21 and 22.

The reserve tips A are carried within a stiff cellophane container having a pair of vertical side walls 23 and 24, respectively, which are joined by vertical end walls 25 and 26 and a flat bottom 27. The top of the container is open for receiving the tips. A folded piece of cellophane 28 is carried within the container for retaining the tips between the folds thereofThe cellophane 28 has sufficient resiliency to retain the tips between the folds. A flap 29 having the bottom thereof secured to the bottom 27 of the container extends upwardly adjacent the side wall 23 of the container for aiding in holding the container within the housing and reservoir. This flap-29 is constructed of cellophane and tends to bend outwardly and engages the wall 20 of the reservoir.

FIG. 5 illustrates another means of retaining the reserve tips A within the reservoir illustrated in FIG. 3. Such includes a horizontal rectangular member 30 having a strip of cellophane folded in the form of pleats 31 mounted thereon. The bottom of the pleats are secured to the horizontal member by any suitable means such as gluing. The width of the pleats 31 is small enough so that the tips A can slip over the pleatsand be retained thereon. l 7

FIG. 6 illustrates still another device constructed ..in accordance with the present invention for inserting the tips A onto cigarettes and the like. The plunger D operates in substantially the same manner as the plunger described previously in connection with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The plunger D has ball shaped members 32 integral with the ends thereof, over which the tip A rides when such is being placed thereon. A flat horizontal recess 33 is provided on the bottom of the sliding plunger so that downwardly extending portions 33a engage the stop 33b when such is shifted within the cylinder C. Each reservoir 34 has a rectangular shaped vertical compartment therein, which is defined by the front wall 35 and a spaced rear wall (not shown) which are joined by the side walls 36 and 37, respectively. The width of the reservoirs is such that the reserve tips A are carried in a stacked manner, one above the other. The bottoms of the reservoirs 34 are open and communicate with the end of the cylinder C so that when the plunger D is shifted from beneath the bottom thereof a reserve tip A drops down into the cylinder for subsequent placement on the plunger.

Spring-biased locking members 38 are carried on the side walls 36 of the reservoirs 34 for closing the open ends of the cylinder when such are in the down position.

FIG. 6 illustrates in full lines the position of the members immediately after the cigarette B, shown in broken lines, has been inserted within the right-hand end of the cylinder C to receive the decorative tip A. Prior to inserting the cigarette into the right-hand end of the cylinder C the spring-biased plunger is raised and the end of the cigarette is brought into contact with the end of the plunger D. The plunger at that time has a tip A thereon. As the cigarette B is inserted within the cylinder C pushing the plunger to the left the tip A engages the abutment E forcing such onto the end of the cigarette. Simultaneously with this operation, the left-hand end of the plunger D is being forced within the tip A which was previously dropped into the cylinder C. The spring-biased locking member 38 prevents the tip A from being forced out of the cylinder, and as a result such is forced to an expanded position onto the plunger D. After the cigarette B has received the tip A from the right hand side of the inserting device the reservoir 35 allows another tip A to be dropped down within the cylinder C. The spring-biased biased locking member is allowed to return to its down position to block the end of the open cylinder. The next cigarette which is to receive the tip A would then be inserted from the left-hand side of the inserting device.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the sprit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for inserting decorative tips on cigarettes and the like, said tips each being: a coiled decorative tip constructed of resilient polymeric material having a diameter when in a relaxed position of less than that of a cigarette upon which such is to be inserted, said coiled tip being capable of being expanded to a diameter greater than the diameter of said cigarette; said device comprising: a housing having a wall defining a longitudinal cylinder; a plunger slidably carried within said cylinder and having a diameter greater than that of a cigarette upon which said tip is to be inserted; whereby said coiled tip may be carried on said plunger in an expanded position; said cigarette may have an end in contact with said plunger for shifting said plunger from a first postion to a second position when inserted in said cylinder; and an abutment carried in said cylinder adjacent said plunger for engaging said coiled tip forcing such off said plunger onto said cigarette when said plunger is shifted from said first position to said second position; whereby said decorative tip will snugly embrace said cigarette providing a decorative tip therefor.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a reservoir for decorative tips is carried in said housing, and said reservoir having retaining means for securing said tips therein.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said retaining means includes a folded flexible member, and said decorative tips may be carried between the folds of said flexible member.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein reservoirs for decorative tips are carried on said housing adjacent the ends of said cylinder, and said reservoirs opening into said cylinder for feeding decorative tips into said cylinder as said plunger is shifted in said cylinder. 

